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Thanksgiving tradition
Nothing can keep Shirley Saunders down
(Published November 17, 2003)

By COTILYA BROWN
Staff Writer

Shirley Saunders is one of those people who is hard to slow down.

Even after a stroke in December 2000 crippled her left hand, Saunders continued her Thanksgiving tradition of cooking food for senior citizens and poverty-stricken families. This year will be her ninth year.

"She just keeps on going," said Ruby Brown, a friend who has known Saunders for more than 20 years.

Brown said Saunders’ community spiritedness is not just confined to Thanksgiving. "She does the repast for people that live in the block when one of their family members die. She has come in and taken over improving the neighborhood all around," Brown said, citing a fall cleanup of her Ward 4 block that Saunders recently organized.

But for the immediate future, Saunders will be occupied with her Thanksgiving tradition. Funding this service on her own for the first few years, she now receives donations from entities like the Neighborhood Development Committee, National Children’s Corp., Safeway, the Metropolitan Police Department, ESL Corp. in Virginia and Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4C.

Last year, Saunders was able to prepare 35 food baskets for needy families and seniors. This year she is trying to prepare at least 30 baskets. Each basket, actually a box, is prepared according to the needs of the families or senior citizens who receive them.

For those individuals who cannot do much for themselves, Saunders makes sure that they receive prepared meals in their boxes. Other boxes come packed with grits, macaroni and cheese, tea, potatoes, salt, ham, seasonings, onions, corn flakes, cranberry juice, green beans, stuffing, turkey, ketchup, tomato paste, pie, and rice.

In addition to volunteering and being an active member of the community, Saunders also works as a teacher at Sharpe Health School for the handicapped. A resident of District of Columbia for the last 23 years, Saunders describes herself as a family-oriented person who comes from a family of 10. Former owner and operator of a day care center for 12 years, Saunders also cares for some neighborhood residents by checking what they need. She said she considers herself the community liaison person.

Ward 4 Councilman Adrian Fenty is among those who recognizes the positive impact Saunders has had on the community.

"Ms. Saunders is an ideal person to have living in the community. She is giving and always volunteers her time. In fact I met her at a function that she was volunteering at about five years ago," Fenty said.

When asked what inspires her to do all the service that she provides in the community, Saunders said she feels driven to help.

"I have to do what I have to do. I don’t believe in disappointing anyone," she said. "Doing this is my way of saying thank you to God for giving me my health, life and strength."